ESPN

Didn’t want the first College Football Playoff to pass without addressing the money — that’s the driving force behind the postseason changes, after all — and the projected revenue for the Pac-12, which is really the Public-10 and the Private-2.

Two quick points before we get to the numbers:

Point 1: The conference is not getting an extra dime for Oregon’s participating in the title game, and it won’t receive an extra dime if the Ducks win. The money is tied to playoff participation, not playoff success.

Point 2: Kudos to the College Football Playoff First for transparency when it comes to explaining the revenue distribution method. The relevant info is available through the CFP’s website. What you’ll read below is taken from there.

The source of the playoff money is a 12-year contract with ESPN that’s reportedly worth approximately $5.5 billion, or close to $500 million annually.

The information below became available last week, but I was in postseason-recharge, essential-posts-only mode.

It’s worth your time, even a little late, because it helps drive the ESPN machine.

ESPN is paying close to $500 million annually for the playoff, it’s playing hundreds of millions annually for broadcast rights to regular season games, and it will broadcast (on its family of networks) all but one of the 38 bowl games (the exception: Sun).

Oh, and in case you hadn’t heard, ESPN is part owner of the SEC Network.

As infuriating as some fans might find the WWL’s hold on college football, this much is undeniable: The ESPN honchos are no dummies.

Why partner with the SEC?

Why promote the SEC at every possible turn?

The info below — the top 25 metered markets — is all you need to know.

The Pac-12 is in discussions with its network partners to change programming practices and avoid another season with an overwhelming number of night games, according to sources inside and outside the conference.

I wouldn’t necessarily characterize the back-and-forth as negotiations, because the league has a contract with ESPN and Fox that isn’t going away for a decade.

But Pac-12 officials were not happy with the ’13 broadcast schedule and are working with their partners to find an acceptable resolution for all parties involved. One source called the league’s approach “fair but firm.”

The conference spent three months listening to complaints from fans and school officials. Commissioner Larry Scott and his lieutenant are keenly aware of the frustration.

The Pac-12 just released the TV assignments and kickoff times for early-season games on ESPN, Fox and the Pac12Nets … plus the full broadcast schedule for Thursday/Friday games … and a handful of non-conference tangles that are owned by other leagues.

*** The Pac-12 Networks broadcast lineup is, well, ho-hum:

Of the 13 non-conference games scheduled to air the weekends of Aug. 31, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, a grand total of one is against a BCS-level opponent, and that’s Boston College at USC.

Meanwhile, more than half of the Pac12Nets games are against FCS-level teams.

Granted, the league is somewhat at the mercy of the schedules, which were put together by the schools years in advance.

The Pac-12 is expected to release its early-season broadcast schedule this week. It will include TV assignments and kickoff times, which are of particular interest to fans eager to make travel arrangements ASAP.

Here’s an explanation of the process and preview of what to expect:

*** We’ll get the specifics for games on the weekends of Aug. 31, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14 and possibly the 21st, as well.

The conference will also announce a smattering of mid- and late-season assignments (more on those below).

But the vast majority of games will be left for in-season selections as the networks attempt to retain flexibility for Oct/Nov. It’s not ideal for fans, especially when Homecoming is involved, but it’s in the best interest of TV ratings and, alas, that’s what it’s all about.

*** Before the three networks begin their so-called draft, Fox and ESPN will make four initial selections. (The entire season of Pac-12-owned games is available.)

Fox has already announced it will broadcast Notre Dame at Stanford on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, a strong indication that it had the first pick in the four-game draft.

‘Twas a good year financially for the Pac-12 in 2011-12 — certainly a much better year than those that came before (although not as good as those about to come!).

The conference has released its tax filings (i.e., the 990s) for the 2011-12 fiscal year, and revenue jumped significantly.

The 58% year-over-year increase — to $175.5 million — was due a variety of factors, first and foremost the football championship game and the increased broadcast inventory resulting from the addition of Utah and Colorado.

More football inventory = more money.

Notes on the 990s:

*** The figures reported here are for July ‘ 11 through June ’12 — theydon’t include the $3 billion deal with ESPN and FOX.

That revenue will be reflected in the 2012-13 tax filings, which we’ll get next spring.

Each of the 10 continuing members is expected to receive approx $16 million in the current fiscal year as the result of the new deal, which is worth an average of $20.8 million/school/year but has an escalator clause.

(In other words, the early-year payouts are less than $20.8 million and the final-year payouts are in the high-$20 millions.)

* After all, without the RPI, there might not have ever been a BracketBusters. Here’s an early version of my column for Saturday’s edition of the Merc and other Bay Area News Group papers // …

This weekend marks the end of BracketBusters, the decade-old event featuring teams from outside the power conferences in late-February, non-conference showdowns.

Its epitaph should read:

BracketBusters2003-2013It served its purpose. Mostly.

“For our situation, it has been great,’’ said Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett, whose team faces Creighton on Saturday in the marquee BracketBusters matchup, with NCAA tournament implications for both teams.

The Gaels have been a regular participant in BracketBusters, which was created by ESPN and a handful of college officials to serve a singular purpose: Provide teams from the so-called mid-majors with resume-boosting games.

With participating conferences agreeing to block out a late-February weekend, ESPN could wait until the middle of the season to set the matchups.